Damien Bollino

French Horn / Piano

Damien Bollino

Damien Bollino

Damien earned a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance from West Virginia University, where he received a full tuition scholarship and studied with Dr. Virginia Thompson, past International Horn Society President and internationally known lecturer/soloist. He then entered graduate school at Duquesne University, studying with William Caballero, principal horn of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Damien earned a Master of Music in Horn Performance/Pedagogy and was awarded The John Hunter endowment. He taught two years of musicianship/theory at Duquesne as part of his assistantship. While there, Damien founded and presided over the first graduate council. Damien has played with numerous ensembles, including the Potomac Concert Band, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Seneca Chamber Winds, Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, and Arion Band. As a member of the International Horn Society Collegiate Horn Choir, he played under the direction of Dave Kriebel. Damien has also played and soloed with the Spotswood Community Orchestra, the Friday Morning Music Club Orchestra, and the Fairfax Symphony. He auditioned for and was selected as principal horn of the American Musical Ambassadors European Concert Tour where he spent six weeks traveling and performing in various European cities, including London, Paris, Milan, Venice, Lucerne, and Brussels. He has performed on stage at Carnegie Hall and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on several occasions. In addition, he has played in master classes by Jacek Muzyk, principal horn of the Buffalo Philharmonic; and the Liege Horn quartet. Damien has had the privilege of playing under Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops; Cliff Colnot, conductor of the Chicago Civic Orchestra; Sidney Harth, former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra; as well as many other reputable conductors, including Jack Stamp, Don Wilcox, Lawrence Christianson, Anthony Maiello, Pablo Saelzar, and Dr. Robert Cameron. In upcoming seasons, he will perform in concerts featuring Sir James Galway and Itzhak Perlman. Damien has been a member of the Sinfonietta since shortly after its inception and is also a member of the Mid-Atlantic Wind Symphony, St. George’s Chamber Ensemble, the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra, and Fairfax Wind Symphony. He is principal horn with the University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra where is the adjunct horn professor and plays in the faculty brass quintet. Damien also performs with the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra.